CA1145309A

CA1145309A - Ballot box

Info

Publication number: CA1145309A
Application number: CA000395151A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gordon W. Holmes
Original assignee: Professional Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Professional Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1982-01-28
Filing date: 1982-01-28
Publication date: 1983-04-26

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A planar top closure structure for a box-like container, specifically a ballot box, comprises two members which fold to form the closure. One of the members is comprised of three panels which are integrally joined one to the top of each one of three walls of the container. The panels attached to the side walls are provided with fold lines which enable the one member to be folded flat while the other member overlies and maintains the closure in the closed position.

Description

3(3~3 BOX CLOSURE
The present invention relates to a novel box closure.
The present application is a division of copending Canadian patent application Serial No. 371,000 filed February 16, 1981. The parent application is directed to a Ballot Box Structure which may utilize the closure structure of this invention.
Box closures of any types are known. Ho~lever, box closures are not known wherein access to the interior of the box through the edges of the closure cannot be had.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided in a box--like container having front and rear walls, side walls and a bottom closure, the improvement which comprises a generally planar top closure consisting of: a first closure member including: a first panel integrally joined to the rear wall, a second panel integrally joined to one of the side walls and to the first panel, and a third panel integrally hingedly joined to the other of the side walls and to- the first panel, the second and third panels each having a fold line extending diagonally across the surface thereof to enable each of the second and third panels to be folded upon itself as the first panel hinges about its join to the rear wall to effect closure of the container; and a second closure member which is integrally hi..ged~y joined to the front wall of the container, overlies the first member and is constructed to maintain the top closure in a container closing position.
B~ the integral joining of the f irst closure memher to each of three top edges of the container walls and the provision of the fold lines in the second and third panels and by the overlying of the first closure member by the second closure member which is integrally joined to the other top edge, access to the interior of the container cannot be attained through any top edge.

,. `~

The invention is described ~urther, by way of illustration, with re~erence to the accompanying dra~7ings wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for a ballot box constructed in accordance with the invention of parent application Serial no. 371,000 and including elements for forming a top closure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the folding seql~ence which is effected with the blank of Figure 1 to form a ballot box in collapsed form;
: Figure 5 is a perspective view of a ballot box in a collapsed form formed by the folding sequence of Figures 2 to 4 suitable fo.r storage and shipping;
Figures 6 and 7 are perspective view of the ballot box of Figure 4 illustrating the formation of the :~ bottom closure from the collapsed form of Figure 4;
Figures 8 and 9 are perspective view of the ballot box of Figure 5 illustrating the folding opera~ions involved in assembly of the top closure such top closure being in accordance with this invention; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the . assembled ballot box illustrating the application of sealing tape to the top closure.
Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein an integral blank 10 die cut, or otherwise formed, from paperbord, which may be corrugated, or other stiff cardbo~rd stock having the rigidity required for structural integrity of the ballot box, and bearing any desired printing material thereon.
The blank 10 comprises a plurality of individual panels integrally joined together along crease or fold lines. A first generally rectangular panel 12 is joined along a first longitudinal crease line 14 to a second rectangular panel 16 which is longitudinally coextensive with but of narrower transverse dimension than the first panel 12. The first panel 12 is joined along a second longitudina:L crease line 18 to a third 3(~

rectangular panel 20 which is dimensioned identically ,_o the second panel 16.
A first lateral crease line 22 joins the first panel 12 to a fourth rectangular panel 24 which is longitudinally coextensive with the transverse dimension of the first panel 12 and has a lateral dimension substantially that of the second and third panels 16, 20.
The fourth panel 24 has a pair of parallel slots 26 and 28 formed therethrough parallel to the crease line 22, with the slot 26 nearer the crease line 22 being of shorter dimension than the other slot 28. The opposite ends of the slots 26 and 28 are positioned approximately equidistantly from the lateral edges of the panel 24.
A second lateral crease line 30 joins the first panel 12 to a fifth panel 32. The fifth panel 32 includes a lateral free edge 34 which extends angularly from the point of join of the crease lines 18 and 30 to a longitudinal free edge 36 of the panel 32 which extends parallel to the crease line 30. A crease line 38 extends across the fifth panel 32 from the point of intersection o the crease lines 14 and 30 to the free edge 36 at an angle to the crease line 30 which is the same as for the edge 34 to define a trapezoid-shaped panel 40 with the edge 34 and a triangular panel 42 with the other lateral free edge 44. A triangular notch 46 is cut from the panel 42 adjacent the inhoard extremity of the fold line 38. A slot 48 is cut th-^ough the crease line 30 longitudinally thereof.
The second panel 16 is joined through one lateral crease line 52 to a wing panel 54 which has a free edge 56 extending at an angle to the crease line 52 parallel to the crease line 38 and an acutely angled edge 58 adjacent the free edge 44 of the panel 32.
The third panel 20 is joined through one lateral crease line 60 to a sixth generally rectangular panel 62 whicn has a lateral dimension the same as the maximum lateral dimension of the fifth panel 32 and the wing panel 54. The sixth panel 62 has a crease line 64 extending across the surface thereof angularly with ~S3~

respect to the crease line 60 and generally parallel to the inclined edge 34 to define a triangular panel portion 65. A triangular notch 66 sized the same as notch 46 but mirror-image shaped with respect thereto is provided at the inboard end of the crease line 64.
The other lateral crease line 67 of the second panel 16 joins the second panel 16 to a first square panel 68, which is also joined by a crease line 70 to on~
lateral edge of the fourth panel 24. A small round hole 72 is formed at the corner join of crease lines 22, 66 and 70. A crease line 74 extends diagonally across the square panel 68 from the hole 72 to the opposite corner, which has a small square 76 cut therefrom.
The third panel 20 is joined through its other lateral crease line 78 to a second square panel 80 which is dimensioned the same as the square panel 68 but is compLimentarily shaped with re~pect thereto. The square panel 80 is joined to the other lateral edge of the fourth panel 24 through crease line 82. A small round hole 84 is formed at the corner join of crease lines 22, 78 and 82. A crease line 86 extends diagonally across the s~uare panel 80 from the hole 84 to the opposite corner, which has a small square 88 cut therefrom Panel 20 is joined through its other longitudinal crease line 90 to a seventh rectangular panel 92 which is dimensioned the same as the first rectangular panel 12. Th~ other longitudinal edge of the panel 92 is joined through crease line 94 to an eighth rectangular panel 96, which carries the outline of a carrying handle 98.
Panel 92 is joined at one lateral edge 100 thereof to an eighth generally rectangular panel 102.
The free longitudinal edge 104 of the panel 102 has a tab 106 extending therefrom of length and location substantially the same as slot 48. A crease line 108 extends across the panel 102 from the corner join of crease lines 60, 90 and 100 to the tab 106 and defines an appro~imate right-angle with the crease line 64.

3(~-3 A crease line 110 joins the other lateral edge of the panel 92 to a panel 112, which has convergent side edges 114 which terminate in a crease line 116 parallel to crease line 110 and joining the panel 112 to a panel 118 which has a maximum dimension slightly greater than the length of slot 28.
Assembly of the blank 10 into a folded ballot box 120, as seen in Figure 5, is effected in the following manner, and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.
Panels 54, 32, 62 and 102 are folded inwardly about their respective crease lines 52, 30, 60 and 100 until they lie flat on respective panels 16, 12, 20 and 92. Panel 42 is folded about crease line 38 to overlie panel 40 while panel portion 65 is folded about crease line 64 to over lie the remainder of the panel. Adhesive strips 43, 63 and 97 are heat applied to panels 44, 65 and 96 respectively (see Figure 2).
Panel 16 then is folded about crease line 14 until folded-over panel 54 engages folded-over panel 42 to effect adhesive joining of the two panels through adhesive strip 43 (see Figure 3). Panel 92 then is folded about crease line 90 until panel 96 engages folded-over panel 16 and. folded-over panel 102 engages -, folded-over panel 650 Adhesive joining is then effected between the engaged panels through adhesive strips 63 and 97 to produce a collapsed form of a ballot box 120, as seen in Figures ~ and S.
The flat, planar disassembled form of the ballot box 120 which results from these folding and glueing operations (see Figures 4 and 5) occupies considerably less space than prior preformed rigid ballot boxes and hence can be readily stored and shipped at considerably less cost.
When it is desired to assemble the ballot box 120 for use, the bottom closure 122 first is formed by squeezing opposite edges of the box to cause folding the panels 12, 16, 20 and 92 until the side panels 16 and 20 are substantially perpendicular to the rear and front panels 12 and 92 respectively. This folding action which 3~

is achieved in rapid effortless manner, causes the elements of the bottom closure 122 to fold open as seer in Figure 6 and to assume the posltions shown in Figure 7. The elements of the bottom closure 122- which were originally adhesively-joined remain so in the assembled form as a result of the unique coaction of the elements thereof and the crease lines provided therein. The structure is stabilized by the snapping of the tab 106 into the slot 48. As may be seen in Figure 6, the panel 102 is dimensioned slightly less than the bottom opening of the box 120. If desired, self-adhesive strips may be provided on the panel 102 and on the panel 40 to cause adhesion of these panels and thereby result in- structure stabilization.
Assembly of the top closure 124 is effected, as seen in Figures 8 and 9, by folding the panel 24 about crease line 22 while, at the same time, the panels 68 and 80 fold about crease lines 70, 66 and 74 and 82, 78 and 86 respectively until the panel 24 covers the top of the box 120 with the panels 68 and 80 folded on themselves underneath the panel 240 The panel 24 is dimensioned slightly less than the top of the box 120.
The top closure 124 is completed by folding the panel 112 down about crease line 110 and insertion of the tab 118 through the slot 28. The tab 118 has notches 119 - adjacent the crease line 116 to enable the tab to snap into the slct 28. Further security against opening of the ballot box 120 may be provided by adhesive tape 126 which applied across the top closure 124 and into engagement with the side panels 16 and 20, as seen in Figure 10.
When assembled in this manner, the only access to the interior of the ballot box 120 is through the slot 26 in the top closure 124. A reinforcement element 128, or other convenient reinforcement, such as tape, is attached to the panel 24 surrounding the slot 26 to prevent the possibility of tampering, or accidental damage to the slot opening.

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Although the assembly and strusture of the top closure 124 have been described with reference to the ballot box 120, the structure may be used for other containers wherein access to the container around the perimeter of the top closure is to be inhibited. The slot 26 may be omitted from the top closure, depending on the intended use thereof.
The bottom closure 122 is secure and access to the interior of the ballot box 120 cannot be attained therethxough, as is apparent from the above description of its structure and formation. In addition, since the panels 68 and 80 are integrally joined to both the side panels 16 and 20 and the panel 24, the top closure 124 is closed on all four sides and there is no possibility for ballots to be inserted into the ballot box 120 nor to be removed therefrom through the perimeter of the top closure 124. This unique ~op closure structure may be us~d in a variety of other box-like containers.
Once the polling has b~en completed, the box is easily transported by the handle 98, which bends to a position generally perpendicular to the panel 96 about crease line 130 and finger holes 132 are used to carry the ballot box 120. The weight of the ballot box 120 is considerably less than the weight of prior art ballot boxes, enabling a person to readily transport even a full box with ease.
Once opened by electoral officials, the box may be discarded, so that the prior art costs associated with collection and warehousing of the ballot boxes are eliminated.
In summary of this disclosure, the present invention relates to a novel top closure construction useful for the provision of a ballot box which avoids - many of the prior art difficulties associated with rigid ballot boxes. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a box-like container having front and rear walls, side walls and a bottom closure, the improvement which comprises a generally planar top closure consisting of:
a first closure member including:
a first panel integrally joined to said rear wall, a second panel integrally joined to one of said side walls and to said first panel, and a third panel integrally hingedly joined to the other of said side walls and to said first panel, said second and third panels each having a fold line extending diagonally across the surface thereof to enable each of said second and third panels to be folded upon itself as said first panel hinges about its join to said rear wall to effect closure of said container; and a second closure member which is integrally hingedly joined to said front wall of the container, overlies said first member and is constructed to maintain said top closure in a container closing position.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said first panel is of generally rectangular shape and is dimensioned slightly less then the dimensions of the top opening of the container and said second and third panels are of square shape.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said second member overlies part of said first member and has a tab extending from a free edge thereof parallel to the hinge join to said first panel and into top closure locking engagement with a longitudinally-extending slot formed through said first member.

4. The container of claim 3 having a second longitudinally-extending slot formed through said first member substantially parallel to said first slot in a location which is not overlaid by said second member, thereby permitting access to the interior of the container therethrough.